Star of the Seas to take the ocean this weekend as sea trials begin

Royal Caribbean’s newest Icon-class cruise ship, Star of the Seas, is set to take to open waters for the first time this weekend, marking one of the most significant phases in her construction: the sea trials.

According to data from Finnish pilot services, Star of the Seas is scheduled to depart the Meyer Turku shipyard on Sunday, 18th May at 18:00. She is expected to be fully out at sea by around 04:00 on Monday morning.

She’s then due to return to Turku 12 days later, on 30th May.

It’s important to note that all dates and times are provisional and may change, but the movement indicates that sea trials are imminent.

Earlier this week, we reported that Star of the Seas began transmitting AIS (Automatic Identification System) data for the first time—making her visible on ship tracking websites and, in a sense, bringing her to life for ship watchers.

Sea trials are a crucial step in any new ship’s construction. They allow engineers and designers to assess the vessel’s stability, test machinery and systems, and gather key performance data. During trials, the ship is pushed through various manoeuvres to evaluate how she performs—how fast she can sail, how quickly she can turn or stop, and how systems respond under different conditions.

Most new cruise ships undergo two sets of sea trials. The initial trials are used to collect data and identify any issues, followed by a period back at the shipyard to complete adjustments or fixes. A second round of trials is then held to confirm that everything is functioning correctly before the ship is officially handed over to the cruise line.

With just over three months until her first commercial sailing, Royal Caribbean will be eager to ensure that everything is operating flawlessly before Star of the Seas leaves the shipyard for the last time and crosses the Atlantic to her homeport in Port Canaveral, Florida.

Star of the Seas is the second vessel in Royal Caribbean’s Icon class, following Icon of the Seas, which was completed in November 2023. The first ship in a new class is typically the most complex to build, as unforeseen issues must be resolved and design processes refined. Subsequent sister ships generally benefit from the experience gained and are constructed more efficiently.

Recent drone images shared by Niko Alakoski on Facebook show that Star of the Seas already appears significantly more complete at this stage than Icon did when she began her own sea trials—an encouraging sign that the process is indeed becoming more streamlined.